800 responses! That’s how many Teach Piano Today readers took time out of their busy schedules to complete our survey last week for PianoGameClub.com… which launches on November 1st.
Like many of you, I started out using piano games as a fun way to reinforce lesson concepts… something to give my students a little “brain break”.
But as I continued to dedicate more and more lesson time to piano games and “off-the-bench” activities, and as my student retention rate went through the roof, I quickly discovered that the benefits of piano games went far beyond just fun.
Now on Wednesday, I’m going to share with you how I manage to easily include piano games in every lesson, but today, let’s take a look my discoveries when I first started using piano games every… single… lesson.
Want to know exactly what I discovered?
Let’s play a little game to find out…
The video below will lead you through our “Off-The-Bench” Piano Quiz. At the end of the video quiz we’ll tell you how to get an incredible “Off-The-Bench” Piano Game that you can use with your piano students this afternoon!
Spoiler Alert: It’s quite “possible” that the quiz is “impossible” to fail 🙂
Get My Piano Game
So you passed the test! Now all you have to do is leave a comment below telling us how much time you spend every lesson performing “off-the-bench” activities and we’ll email you an exciting game that you can print off and play this afternoon.
And the best part… every single person who leaves a comment will get the game 🙂
I love games and my students love games. Wish I had more time for them.
I teach so many boys & teens in the studio & everyone, including the girls, love all of the games!! My students actually ask for these games, off the bench & on, if I don’t include a few minutes during lessons. Challenge is to find the time to do all with 30 minute lessons. Trevor & Andrea have saved my day many times with their fantastic ideas & concepts. Thanks so much!! Sonja Endreson
I spend about 5-7 per lesson on games. It definitely makes the “not-so-fun” concepts more fun to learn. : ) Thank you for all that you do!
Looks like fun! I can’t wait to use this game with my students!
It varies depending on the day and how antsy the student is, but really anywhere from 5 minutes to 15.
I wouldn’t risk taking up more than half the student’s lesson with games unless the parents know what we’re doing and how it’s helpful (having a kid run out shouting “WE PLAYED GAMES THE WHOLE TIME” often receives glares even after I explain).
I have been trying to do more games this year. My students really enjoy them. Usually takes about 5 min.
10 minutes
I confess that I usually do a lot of off bench activities with beginners, but my good intentions (or my planning?) gradually fade. Tsk tsk. You are inspiring me to get some games for older/more advanced students.
I use all different games, and I am always in search for the new ones. This one looks fun too, so i would love to try it out.
Thank you for helping us all be better teachers.
I love using games to help students discover musical concepts and am always looking for more! I don’t use them every lesson as new concepts aren’t introduced at each lesson.
I spend at least 10-15 minutes doing games! It’s their favorite part of the lesson and mine too!!
I love games! Learning while having fun is the best way to learn. One of my students went home last week after playing one of your games and said to her mom, “Piano was the BEST today!”
I am a new teacher, and I am still building up my “piano games”, but I love using the ones I have, I try to use them and a music app from my ipad for 5-7 minutes of my lessons, which the kids also love!
Thanks to the inspiration from your website, I have been incorporating games much more frequently-with awesome results! You have me convinced! Thanks for all the wonderful tips!
I try to play a game with my students once a week (my lessons for younger children are broke up into 2 15 minute lessons). They love it!
Cute video. 🙂 Looking forward to the game!
I teach mainly group classes of 4-6 students each and games are almost always a part of our 45 minute classes. In fact, my students really get after me if I forget game time!
Great responses. Games are so great for so many situations. The more ideas the better. Thanks,
Andrea
It really depends on the student and how the lesson is going. I have been using games alot with my younger students and as well with the other students who are having problems learning a concept.
I’ve only been spending about 5-10 mins in a lesson for learning games.
My students love games!
5-10 minutes depending on age and level of student, and their personality/needs
I use off the bench games almost every lesson for my younger students, but I rarely use them for the tweens and the teens who think they’re “too cool” for them… interested to see what y’all are cooking up!
My answer is the same as Diana’s
Love game based learning. Gives me a really good idea on how much theory they are retaining. Usually 5-10 minutes.
I teach MY. And games are pretty much part of every lesson j teach. I also do group lessons with my private students and always include games at those classes ! Love your idea do the piano game club !
I use off the bench activities and music games regularly. I am always looking for some new ideas. Thanks!
I love off the bench activities! It seems older students don’t prefer them quite as much though.
We spend about 5mns with iPad games each lesson…looking forward to additional hands-on games!
When I can fit it in…often not enough time. Would love some new ideas for things to try!
I try to spend about 5-10 minutes off-the-bench!
All students love games and challenges!
Sometimes a quick, pertinent game to open the lesson with to get the brain on track. Then a game to close the lesson with the incentive to come back for more!
I use off the bench activities about 5-10 minutes of most 30 minute lessons.
Games are fun, easy to understand and pictures and tangibles are a great learning asset.
2-5 min depending on the game and the student and the day. 🙂
I use games with younger students and even occasionally a teen or adult to introduce a new skill or concept. Love the new concept of a piano game club.
Haven’t used them much, but have wanted to. Just need some good resources.
Almost all of my students get “off the bench” activities for 5-10 minutes.
I use games soon after new concepts are taught to reinforce tbhem.
I use piano games 0-5 minutes per lesson. Would like to utilize them more consistently.
I need to learn to implement these types of things. I have just patterned my teaching after what I learned growing up. What I have noticed is that there does need to be supplemental activities to get the most out of them. Thank you for helping us less experienced teachers!
I have only tried a few games, but am excited to learn more.
I try to spend about five minutes per lesson on a game and/or off-the-bench activity. It is sometimes difficult to fit that in, but it is always time well spent.
Depends on the age of the student – my younger ones need to keep moving on and off the bench.
The students in my musicianship class play lots of games during class…but not a lot in their actual private lesson. Maybe a bit more there too would meet a specific need for that particular student. I’m always open to creative ideas!!!
I like to get the students off the bench, and I try to turn lots of theory activities into “games” so they can stand, move, jump, clap and be ACTIVE! Today I am going to see how long they actually spend OFF the bench!
the younger the student, the more time I spend off the bench. I think it’s important for all students though.
I am going to do more off the bench games starting today
Love your products! I’m willing to try!!
I have always used music games away from the piano. I do games on the whiteboard, a lot of finger games, board games and rhythm games with instruments. I also do a lot of solfege singing to work on aural training. I believe the lesson needs to be interesting and exciting to keep the children focused and wanting more.